The Chronicle T h e i n d e p e n d e n t d a i ly at D u k e U n i v e r s i t y
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2010
Recession’s effect on fin. aid unclear
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH YEAR, Issue 103
www.dukechronicle.com
duke student gov’t
Before Senior Night
Dining fee may rise by $100
by Sabrina Rubakovic The Chronicle
Students who apply to Duke must decide whether to check a box on their applications indicating whether they intend to apply for financial aid. The past three years have seen the University enact a major overhaul of financial aid policies in December 2007 and cope with the impact of a national recession in the fall of 2008. Yet, the percentage of applicants checking that box has admissions remained relatively part 2 of 2 steady. Since 2003, this number has fluctuated between 62 and 66 percent, according to data provided by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, catching administrators by surprise. “It surprised me last year and it surprised me this year. I would have suspected that the percentage would have increased,” said Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Christoph Guttentag. Although it remains unclear why the percentage of applicants expressing an intent to apply for aid has remained so consistent, Guttentag said one possible explanation is the discrepancy between
Price hike would cut $2.2M deficit in half by Matthew Chase THE CHRONICLE
eugene wang/The Chronicle
Men’s head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski speaks to students in an open team meeting at the practice facility Wednesday night. In his talk, Krzyzewski said he will miss the talent of the currents seniors.
To eliminate nearly $1.1 million of its current deficit, Dining Services may increase its dining plan contract fee by about $100 for Fall 2010, Duke Student Government President Awa Nur announced Wednesday. Currently, undergraduates pay a $19.50 dining contract fee each semester. But Nur, a senior, said Vice President for Campus Services Kemel Dawkins and Director of Dining Services Jim Wulforst have presented a plan to implement the one-time $100 fee to make up for the deficit. The plan is not finalized, as Executive Vice President Tallman Trask will review the proposal later this week, Nur said after the meeting. The decision comes after year-long discussions with administrators during which Nur and other student representatives worked to voice student interests, cut costs
See financial aid on page 3
See dsg on page 5
Profs, admins look to digital textbooks to slow rising prices
Do try this at home
by Rachel Sussman THE CHRONICLE
Indu ramesh/The Chronicle
A staff member of the Duke Educational Leaders in Sexual Health leads the Sex Toys Workshop Wednesday night. The event, sponsored by the Healthy Devils Peer Educators, was designed to expose students to sex toys and non-sex intimacy options.
As education goes digital, textbooks may find a home online. The physics department and university libraries at North Carolina State University are for the first time offering online textbooks free to the 1,300 students taking introductory-level physics this semester. The plan was implemented after Michael Paesler, head of the NCSU physics department, approached the university’s library about using electronic textbooks to reduce the cost of books for students. The initiative is estimated to save students a total of $250,000. “Students are paying an exorbitant amount of money for textbooks,” Paesler said. “I feel that an electronic text is something students would be comfortable with.” N.C. State Libraries paid about $1,500 to purchase the See textbooks on page 4
ONTHERECORD
“I am battling against the myth of African dance.” —Zimbabwean dancer Nora Chipaumire. See story RECESS 4
Men’s Basketball: Vacation? Conference USA opponent Tulsa gives Duke a break from ACC play, PAGE 7
“Blood Done Sign My Name” comes to the screen, RECESS 5